Posted on 01/31/2007 5:14:36 AM PST by MARKUSPRIME
Germany has ordered the arrest of 13 suspected CIA agents over the alleged kidnapping of one of its citizens.
Munich prosecutors confirmed that the warrants were linked to the case of Khaled al-Masri, a German national of Lebanese descent.
Mr Masri says he was seized in Macedonia, flown to a secret prison in Afghanistan and mistreated there.
He says he was released in Albania five months later when the Americans realised they had the wrong man.
Mr Masri says his case is an example of the US policy of "extraordinary rendition" - a practice whereby the US government flies foreign terror suspects to third countries without judicial process for interrogation or detention.
Code names
Prosecutors in Munich said in a statement that the city's court had issued the warrants on suspicion of abduction and grievous bodily harm. The information on which the warrants was based came from Mr Masri's lawyers and a journalist and officials in Spain, where the flight carrying Mr Masri is thought to have originated.
"These findings, as well as other information uncovered in the probe, led to the strong suspicion that these 13 identifiable people were involved in the abduction of Masri," it said.
The names and nationalities concerned were not released but prosecutors said the names identified were thought to be the code names of CIA agents.
"The investigation will now focus on learning the actual names of the suspects," they said.
German arrest warrants are not valid in the US but if the suspects were to travel to the European Union they could be arrested.
Italian case
Mr Masri says he was abducted by US agents in the Macedonian capital, Skopje, on 31 December 2003.
He is seeking to sue the US government over his detention, but in May a judge dismissed a lawsuit he filed against the CIA, citing national security considerations.
The US government is not assisting the German authorities with the case.
Meanwhile in the Italian city of Milan, court hearings to decide whether to indict 25 alleged CIA agents and several Italians accused of kidnapping a Muslim cleric in 2003 are under way.
Osama Mustafa Hassan, or Abu Omar, says he was abducted from the streets of Milan and then tortured in Egypt.
If the case proceeds to trial, it would be the first criminal prosecution over America's rendition policy.
The practice has drawn widespread criticism from human rights groups, legal experts and the international community.
But last week a European Parliament committee approved a report saying EU states knew about secret CIA flights over Europe, the abduction of terror suspects by US agents and the existence of clandestine detention camps.
All done with the tacit or explicit approval of the German Government.
If you say so - you´re the expert. Look at the links how the US armed Iraq at the same time. May I remind you of the famous handshake between Saddam and Rummy? After 1991, Iraq became a "No-No"-country for you and us, but you know that. It´s just, that lies are way more comfortable for your position.
Listen up Michael,
Our military people have an expression: "Mess with the best, die like the rest"
If your guys start apprehending our guys, your guys are going to learn the true meaning of that expression
If the Germans ever have to face any of our special operations people, they are done.
I see that laws, innocence and rights have no meaning for you. However, if anyone of these wanted people sets his foot on EU territory, and if he confesses that he is a wanted guy, he will end up in a German jail. A lot "if"s, but that´s to make sure you understand we don´t fear you.
Your government very well knows that this case didn´t go right, and the PR damage done hurts you far more than any arrest being (never) made. Thank God that you´re not the majority of Americans, Mr. We-re-the-kings-of-the-world!
End of dialogue with you freaks.
Sending chemical weapons to rogue states that hates the Jews means nothing to Germans... I see they haven't learned their lesson sixty years later...
A lot "if"s, but that´s to make sure you understand we don´t fear you.
How many troops does the USA have in Germany? Better think about that and how quickly our British friends would jump across the channel if you guys decide to get snotty again... And believe me, the Poles would just love an excuse.
Funny how an UNEMPLOYED Islamic immigrant with five children can just take off on a holiday. German welfare state. Lots of laughs...
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